| STRATEGIC DRIVING DRIVER TRAINING CLASS When a person learns to drive, meaning those first few times behind the wheel, safe driving won't be a top priority because all the time is being spent guiding the car in a (more or less) straight line, finding the controls, and trying to make proper turns. Plus a host of other things. Once all of the above are under control and it's time to head out into traffic, then the student can start applying the theory of safe driving, and hopefully become a strategic driver. I define strategic driving as involving all of the following • Smart driving • Thinking driving • Safe driving • Economical driving This is discussed in my driver education ebook which can be found by clicking here I think a good way to illustrate the above is by showing you a few examples of non-strategic driving. EXAMPLE 1 - The traffic is flowing along nicely on the expressway, with most drivers keeping a good space. Driver A for some unknown reason pulls out, passes the vehicle in front of him, and then pulls in behind a transport truck. He continues to follow the transport truck, leaving very little space. I guess we don't have to debate whether that was a smart move or not. So, let's take a look at the disadvantages: 1 Driver A can no longer see what's happening up ahead. 2 If the transport driver hit his brakes, he wouldn't be able to stop in time. 3 He's not as visible to other drivers 4 The transport driver can't see him EXAMPLE 2 - Driver A sees the traffic light ahead change to yellow (amber) He steps hard on the gas pedal and races through the light. Disadvantages: 1 Risk of colliding with a cross-vehicle 2 Could get a traffic citation 3 Wasting gas 4 Endangering other road users EXAMPLE 3 - Driver A is driving in the lane closest to the center line of a 4 lane street. He decides to change lanes and drive in the curb lane, even though he won't be making a turn up ahead, and has no good reason to change. If he had looked well ahead he would have seen a cyclist in the curb lane. Disadvantages: 1 Driving close to a cyclist when it's not necessary. 2 Risk of a collision if the cyclist weaves 3 Could make cyclist nervous EXAMPLE 4 Driver A has let his speed drop down somewhat, and keeps looking over at houses. Driver B sees these things happening, yet stays be- hind driver A. Driver A finally stops, which causes driver B to become upset, hit their brakes, then roar past. Disadvantages for driver B - They let themselves be held up unnecessarily - Used extra gas and brakes - They became emotionally upset and stressed - Could get a citation if they sped away EXAMPLE 5 Driver A approaches a red light fast, then when he's quite close he brakes hard and stops past the stop line. (Quite a common occurence) Disadvantages: - If something happened, such as sliding, he might hit a pedestrian - More chance of hitting a pedestrian by stopping past the stop line (Perhaps a child is running across the road and not staying within the crosswalk lines) - More chance of the car behind pushing him into the pedestrian - Startled the pedestrian, who didn't think he was going to stop - Used more gas, brakes, and rubber than he needed to - Not giving the driver behind as much warning as he could (Is this driver doing any thinking at all?) So you can see how strategic driving encompasses safe driving, smart driving, and economical driving. The above is discussed in my defensive driver education program "Learn To Drive And Survive" which can be found by clicking below: http://www.ultimate-driver-training.com/index.html Webmasters: if you would like to link to this article you can use the following URL: http://www.ultimate-driver-training.com/strategic_driving.html
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